Breech-loading fire-arm



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. B. CARD 8; W. H. ORUTTENDEN.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

No. 340,283. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. E. CARD 8: W. H. ORUTTENDEN.

BREEOH LOADING FIRE ARM. No. 340,283. PatentedApr. 20, 188.6.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. M. E. CARD & W.'H. URUTTBNDEN.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

( L) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. M. E.-OARD'& W. H. URUTTENDEN.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

No. 340,283. Patented Apr.'20, 1.5886.

MT M55555 W W'W ih4M/ UNITED STATES PATENT Gr mes.

-MILTON E. CARD AND WILL. H. GRUTTENDEN, OF CAZENOVIA, NElV YORK.

novel device for checking the movement of BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,283, dated April 20; 1886.

Application filed January 7, 1886.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that we, MILTON E. CARD and WILL. H. CRUTTENDEN, of Cazenovia, int'he county of Madison, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire Arms, of whichthe following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the class of breechloading fire-armswhich have the barrels hinged on the frame toswing vertically'thereon in opening-and closing the breech, and are usually designated drop-down guns.

The invention consists, first, in novel devices for ejecting the shell from the barrels automatically duringthe dropping ofthe barrels into their open position; secondly, in a the barrels into their open position, and thus relieving the hinge of the barrels from undue strain; thirdly, in improved means for automatically cooking the hammer during the dropping of the barrels into their open position; fourthly, in improved devices for locking the barrels in their closed-position; and the invention furthermore consists in certain peculiarities in the detail constr'uction of the aforesaid devices and auxiliaries connected therewith, all as hereinafter more fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure I is'a longitudinal vertical section of a gun embodying our improvements, taken in aplane at the side of the ejector and its operating devices, and showing the barrels in their closed position. Fig. II is a longitudinal section showing the operation of the ejector during the operation of dropping the barrels into their open position'. Fig. III is a longitudinal vertical sec tion showingthe device for checking the movement of the barrels indropping the same into their open position. Fig. 1V is alongitudinal vertical section taken at the side of the devices for locking the barrels in their closed position... Fig. V is adeiached inverted plan View of the barrels. Fig. V1 is an inverted plan view of the aforesaid locking devices. Fig. VII is an enlarged view of the forward face of the locking-bolt. Fig. VIlI is an enlarged top plan view of the same. Fig. IX is Serial No. 187,842. (No model.)

a detached plan view of the combined extractor and ejector; and Figs. X, XI, and XII are transverse sections, respectively on lines a: m, yy, and 22, Fig. I.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

B represents the barrels, hinged to the frame A, so as to swing vertically thereon in throwing the barrels into theiropen and closed positions, The hinge of the barrels in this instance consists ofa pin, 3, extending horizontally through the end portion of the frame and rigidly secured thereto, so as to prevent the rotation of said pin.

The frame A.which is sometimes termed the breech piece, is formed with the usual top recess extending from the fore end, E, back to the so-callec recoitplate A, in which recess the breech end of the barrels is seated when in a closed position, as rep-resented in Fig. I of the drawings. The under side ofthe barrels is provided with the usual lug, L,which enters the mortise n in the frame A, and abuts against the rear side of the hinge-pin. The fore'end, E, abutting against the forward end of the frame, and fitted thereto with asemicircularjoint, completes the hinge of the barrels.

K denotes the extractor, having its stem sliding in a channel which extends longitudinally through the lug immediately below the barrels. There are two of such extractors, one for each barrel, and arranged in separate channels. These extractors are actuated simultaneously and positively by one and the same lever or cam 'i,which is arranged in the fore-end and bears on the forward ends of the two extractor'stems, and in tilting the barrels into their open positions said lever or cam crowds the extractors rearward and causes them to push the shells out ofthe breech ends of the barrels in the usual manner.

The extractors K we convert into ejectors by the following means: The two extractorstems are arranged in'proximity to each other, and are provided at the adjacent sides of their forwardends with lateral projections by which they abut against the cam or lever 11, hereinbefore' described. From the forward ends part way back the stems K K are attenuated on their outer sides. as shown at K in Fig. IX

section K slides a supplemental stem, K,

which by its rear end presents a shoulder, f,

.on the side of the stem K, for the purpose hereinafter presently explained. The supplemental stem K projects beyond the forward end of the stem' Kland is formed with a shoulder, Z, by which it encounters the end of the stem K. In longitudinal channels in the fore end la and parallel with thesupplemental stems K K slide plungers a a, which by means of spiral springsare caused to exert a rearward pressure on the forward ends of the pivoted bell-crank or elbow leversd d, which are normally out of the path of the ejector stems K K, and are each adapted to be swung independently of each other into a position to'engage by one of its arms the shoulderf presented on the side of the ejector-stem by the rear end of the supplemental stem K, as hereinbefore desi ribed. The other arm of the lever d reaches under a suitable catch, e, which is rigidly attached tothe frame A. Said catch may consist simply of a projection on rear end of the supplemental stem K"is caused toencounter the saidlever when tiltingthe bar rels into their open position, during which latter movement the ejector is first crowded rearward by the lever or cam iand actuated in the manner of an ordinary extractor, which starts the shell out of the rear end of the barrel. In the latter part of the tilting movement of the barrels the lower arm of the lever d is en.- countered by the catch or bar 6, which depresses said arm of the lever, and thereby causes the upper arm of the same to press the supplemental stem K forward in opposition to the spring-actuated plunger (1, and just as the barrels reach their extreme open position the end of the aforesaid lever-arm slips off from the end of the supplemental stem K", and allows the same to be propelled by the spring-actuatedv plunger a. In the rearward thrust of the said-supplemental stem the shoulder Z thereof strikes the forward end of drawings.

Inasmuch as the two leversd d are arrange to operate independently of each other, thetwo ejectors are also operative independently of each other, and this is one of the important features of our invention, inasmuch as it is only desired toeject the empty shell or shells.

\Ve do not limit ourselves to the employment of the cam or lever i, or other analogous means fer positively actuating the ejector, as it is obvious that the spring of the plunger a may be made sufficiently stiff to exert the requisite force for starting the shell from the barrel. v

One of the salient features of our invention is the springprope'lled ejector, in combination with a lever pivoted on the lug of the barrels and adapted to engage and release the ejector, and a catch-on the frame actuating said lever to repress the ejector in opposition be its propelling'spri'ng, and to suddenly release said ejector during the dropping of the barrels into their open position. I

As a means for setting the levcrd in its operative position in relation to the ejector, we employ a shifter consisting of a push-bar, h, connected at one end to the trigger T, above the pivot thereof, and having its opposite end adapted to engage a heel projection, g, on the lever d. Bypressing on the trigger the pushbar h is moved-forward against the heel projection g, and caused to swing the lever in position to be encountered by the shoulder f of the ejector-stem, as represented by dotted lines in Fig. I of the drawings. 1

From the foregoing it will be observed that the ejector and its actuating mechanism are held normally out of their operative position and set into operative position by means of the trigger when moved to-discharge the gun. This we consider a most important feature, as it leaves the charged shell in the barrel, and only ejects the empty shell.

m representsa link, which is hookedvonto the log L, so as to be detachable therefrom, when desired, to detach the-barrels from the frame A. The lower end of this link isformed with lateral projections 19, which extend into vertical grooves o 0 in the sides of the mortise n, which grooves extend from the under side of the frame A part way up, and terminate abruptly,so as to arrest the upward movement of the projections p p of the link; and thereby check at the proper time the tilting of the barrels into their open position, and thus relieve the hinge-pin 3 of undue strain.

The described checklink m is held on the lug L by means of a spring, 2, attached to the link and bearing with its end against the lug.

We utilize the aforesaid check link for antomatically cooking the hammer during the throwing of the barrels into their open position by forming the hammer I with a forwardly-extended arm, l, which rests with its free end on one of the projections 19 of the checklink m, and conseq'uehtly is raised by said link during the upward tilting of the breech end of the barrels.

Our invention next relates to the so-called IIC top fastener, which locks the barrels in their closed position. This top fastener we construct of a mutilated cylindrical bolt, D. which we pivotvertically in the frame A, back of the recoil-plate A, by providing the frame with a channel, H, extending from the under side vertically part way through the frame, and inserting the bolt D into said channel, wherein it is retained by the instrumcntality hereinafter explained. In the top of'the frame is a vertical slot, which intersects the channel in which the bolt D is seated.

The barrels B are provided with the usual rib-extension, O, which enters the aforesaid top slot of the'frame. This rib-extension we provide with an eye or aperture, 1'. extending horizontally through it, and the bolt D we form with a horizontal hook, s, which, by turn ingsaid bolt, is made to enter the aperture r when the barrels are properly down in their closed position. By making the hook s eccentric on its inner side and beveling it ou its vunder side, the engagement-of said hook with the rear side and bottom of the aperture 1 is caused to crowd the barrels rearward and downward, and thus insure a tight joint atthe breech, so as to effectually prevent the escape of gas when discharging the gun. Back of the bolt D is a shalt, i1, extending verti cally through the tang N. To the upper end of this shaft is rigidly secured the top lever,

F. Underneath the tang is a lug. 12, project I ingfrom theshaft u, and into a notch,'t, formed in the lower end of the bolt D. Thelug, bearing against the under side of the bolt, serves to sustain thelatter in the upper endof the channel H. A spring, 20, attached to the un der side of the tang, presses against the side of the lug n, so as to turn the bolt D in the direction to normally hold the hook interlocked with the aperture r of the rib-extensionG.

By swinging the top lever, F, horizontally or laterally to oneside, the log 0 is caused to .turnthe bolt D in a direction to draw thehook 8 out of the aperture 1. The barrels are'then released to allow them to be tilted into their open position.

lt'will be observed that by seating the locking-boltD in the channel H, which latter is easily bored in the frame A, and sustaining the bolt by the lug 'u, in the manner described,

we obtain a very simple. inexpensive, con venient, and eliective attachment of the said lockingbolt.

Having described our invention. whatwe claim as new, and desire to secnreby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a breech loading lire-arm, an ejector under constant strain ol'a propelling-spring, a lever pivoted on the lug and adapted to engage and release the ejector, ashil'ter connected with the trigger and arranged to throw the aforesaid lever into engagement with the ejector automatically with the pulling of the trigger, and a catch on the frame arranged to actuate the lever to repress the ejector, and

tion' to engagethe-ejector,

sition to engage the ejector,

barrels and pressing forward on the ejector,

and a catch on the frame actuating said lever to repress the e t-ctorand suddenly release the same during the dropping of the barrels, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the ejector, the spring actuated plunger (1, located in the foreend,the lug L, provided with the slotc,thelever d,pivoted on the log and engaging arms the ejector stem, and the bare, secured to the frame and projecting through the slot 0, all combined to repress and suddenly release the ejector automatically when dropping the barrels, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the frame and barrels, the spring propelled ejector K K, the lever (Z, pivoted on the lug and adapted to repress the ejector, the catch (2. secured to the l'ratue and engaging the lever d. and a pushbar arranged tothrow the said lever in posisubstantially as set forth.

5. Iulcombinatiou with the frame, trigger, and barrels, the spring propelled ejector K K,"the lever 11. pivoted on the lug and adapted to repress the ejector, the. catch 6, secured to theft-ante and engaging the lever d, and the push-bar it, connected to the trigger and engaging the lever 11, to throw the same in posnbstantially described and shown.

6. In combination with the frame, trigger, and barrels, the automatic ejector having its stem extending through the lug, and provided with the shoulder f,- the spring-act uated plunger located in the fore end and bearing on the end of the ejector-stem, the lug L, provided with thcslotc, the bar 0, secured to the frame and projecting through said slot, the bell-crank lever 02, pivoted on thelug and having one of its arms adapted to engage the shoulder fand its'other arm extending under the bar e, and-provided with the heel projection g, and the push-bnrh, connected to the trigger and adapted to engage the heel projection 9, all constructed and combined substantially in the manner specified and shown.

7. The combination of the extractor, actuated positively by a lever or cam arranged at the hinge of the barrels, a spring-actuated plunger arranged to press rearward on the extractor-stern and follow the same in its movements, aucjectordever pivoted on the lug and adapted to be thrown in and out of engage inent withthe extractor, and a catch on the frame engaging the ejector-lever,substautially as set forth.

S. In a double-barrelcd breechloading gun,

two extractors arranged in separate channels by one ol'its and operated by one and the same cam or lever arrangedlat the hinge of the barrels and central thereof, substantially as set forth.

9. In a double'learreled breech-loading gun, two extractors operated positively by oneand' the same cam or lever connected to the-hinge of the barrels and central thereof, two springactuated plungers, each pressing one ofthe, extractors rearward, and two ejectorlevers arranged to operate independently of each other, and each adapted .to engage one of the extractors and repress'the same in opposition to the spring-plungers, substantially as described and shown. i

10. The combination, with the extractorstem, of a supplemental stein arranged movable independently of the former stem and provided with a catch arranged to engage the extractor-stem during the movement of the supplemental stem, a spring-actuated plunger pressing rearward on the supplemental stem,v and'a lever adapted to engage said supplemental stem and press the same forward in opposition to the aforesaid plunger, snbstantia'lly as described and shown. l g

11. In combination with the lever 12, the extractor-stem K, formed with the attenuated rear end portion, K, the supplemental stein K, sliding at the side of the attenuated stemsection K, and'provided with the shoulder Z, the spring-actuated plunger a,-"oearin, on the forward end of the supplemental stem K,and the lever d, engaging the rear end of said supplemental stem,substantially as dcscribed'and shown. I

12; In combination with the barrels, the

- frameprovidedin oppositesides of the mortise n with gro'oveso o,extending from the bottom of the mortise part way toward the top of the frame, and the link m, hung on the lug and having lateral projections p p, extending'i'nto the aforesaid grooves,substantiall y in the 111311 ner described and shown.

13. In combination with the frame and barrels hinged thereon, the mortise n, provided with the grooves 0, the link 1, having projections 10, extending into the grooves 0, and. the spring 2, connected at one end to the lug and bearing with its opposite end down on the link at, substantially as described and 14.v In' combination with the frame and barrels hinged thereon, and the check-link m, hung on the lug of the barrels, the hammer formed in 'one piece with the forward-projecting arm I,engaging the said link,su bstantially as shown.

15. In combination with the frame and barrels hinged 'thereon, the check-link m, hung on the lug of the barrels, and provided with the lateral projections pp, and the two hammers, each formed in one piece with the for ward-projecting arm I, bearing on one of the projections 19, substantially in the manner described and shown; v

16. In combination with the rib-extension G, provided with the aperture r, the bol-t'D, pivoted vertically back of the recoil-plate and having the horizontal hook s, entering the aperture 1', and formed eccentric on its inner side and beveled on its under side, to crowd the barrels B rearward and downward, substantially as described and shown.

17, In combination with the' rib-extension 0, provided with the aperture 1', the frame provided back of'the recoil-plate with the channel H, extending from the under side vertically part waythrough the frame, the bolt D, seated in the upper end of said chan nel, and provided with the horizontal hook s at its upper end and with the notch t atits lower end, the shaft u, extending vertically through the tang, the lever F, attached to the upper end of the shaft, the lug i2, projecting from the shaft'and into the notch t, and supporting the bolt in the channel H, and the spring 11;, hearing on the lug 1), all constructed and combined substantially in the manner specified andshown.

1 In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names and affixed our seals, in the "presence of two attesting witnesses, at Caze novia, in the county of Madison, in the State of New York, this 26th day of December,

MILTON E. CARD. [L. s. \VILL. H. GRUTTENDEN. [L. s.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM THOMAS, W. L. DoREMUs. 

